State of the Nation Address 2025 — as it happened

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 STATE OF THE NATION ADDRESS 2025 

Presented and edited by Joseph Kizza
(Scroll down the page to view earlier updates)
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 5:03 PM 

 END OF LIVE PAGE 

And that's it for today's text commentary. Let's meet again next week for the Budget Reading.

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 5:01 PM 

House adjourned

Speaker Among adjourns the House until next Thursday, 2pm.

Anthems next up. And then departure.

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 5:00 PM 

'Let's be back here to receive the budget'

Speaker of Parliament Anita recognizes the presence of her living predecessors, paying tribute to their legislative contributions in years gone by.

She also voices Parliament's commitment to prioritizing government business. "We take cognizant of Government's legislative agenda in the fifth session and we pledge our utmost commitment to the 11th Parliament to prioritize the government business and expeditiously and exhaustively consider all the government business before any other business."

Among says the House will "allot time at a later date for an exhaustive debate on the President's address on the state of the nation."

The Speaker invites fellow MPs to be back at Kololo next Thursday (June 12) to receive the budget.

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 4:50 PM 

 MUSEVENI ENDS ADDRESS 

President declares 5th session open

"I have the pleasure to declare the fifth session of the 11th Parliament open. I salute all of you. May God bless you," concludes President Yoweri Museveni.
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 4:49 PM 

Museveni hails Parliament for 'saving us'

In his concluding remarks, the President says some of the bills passed by Parliament in the fourth session "helped in the stability of the country, like the UPDF Bill".

"I want to congratulate Parliament. I want to congratulate the Speaker for saving us that big, big problem because there is no way UPDF soldiers can go to the magistrates courts once they have made mistakes in the barracks initially. It's not possible. I don't think it happens in other armies."
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 4:43 PM 

'Uganda 7th fastest-growing economy in the world'

"Uganda is moving forward. It is now irreversibly a middle income country with GDP per capita of $1,263. It is No.7 among the fastest-growing countries in the whole world, according to the International Monetary Fund [IMF]," says Museveni.

"It is growing at 6.3 per cent per annum. It is projected to be 7 per cent next year and will grow in double digits after oil."

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 4:40 PM 

Next Thursday, Parliament will be back at Kololo for the 2025/2026 National Budget Reading.

Museveni says that in his Budget Speech, he will talk about corruption and the East African federation.
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 4:37 PM 

'Our security is robust'

"Our security apparatus is also robust. All this is in spite of the mistakes of the careerists that infiltrated the civilian sections of the NRM and even the UPDF to some extent. These are normally after personal enrichment and power. They hardly bother with salvation policies of Uganda or Africa," says the President.

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 4:35 PM 

'Uganda is unstopppable'

"I wish to reiterate that the NRM is aiming at making Uganda a $500-billion economy in the near future," says the President Museveni, adding "we have identified four key areas to drive this rapid growth":

▪️ Agroindustrialization
▪️ Tourism and travel
▪️ Mineral beneficiation and manufacturing
▪️ Science, technology and innovation, including ICT and digital transformation

"What I have said in this long speech is that Uganda is now unstoppable in terms of economic growth and social-economic transformation."

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 4:33 PM 

President Museveni urges Ugandans to embrace the ongoing ID registration and renewal exercise, which kicked off last month across the country.
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 4:22 PM 

On education, the President says there are now 12,550 government-aided primary schools across the country, 1,416 secondary schools, 189 technical and vocational schools, as well as 12 degree-awarding tertiary institutions.
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 4:17 PM 

The speech is long, you say?

"Don't mind the long speech, you are the ones who invited me," quips the President, cracking his audience.

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 4:09 PM 

More roads for tarmacking

The President names the roads in different parts of the country that are scheduled to be tarmacked in the 2025/2026 financial year — in addition to others that are already being worked on.

He also says he is negotiating for additional funds to have other roads worked on.

Museveni also names the "strategic bridges" that are also to be worked on.

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 3:54 PM 

Nod to scientists

The President commends Uganda's scientists for "nurturing Uganda's nascent knowledge economy", in the form of innovations such as the electric carmaking by Kiira Motors Corporation in Jinja, groundbreaking works in the pharmaceutical industry, agricultural research, etc.

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 3:45 PM 

'Africa's biggest problem'

President Museveni says the exportation of raw materials is Africa’s biggest problem, which he says "means we are donating all the benefits, such as jobs and money, to other countries".

"Government has banned the export of unprocessed minerals," says the President.

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 3:27 PM 

'More divesified and sophisticated'

In his wide-ranging address, the President has said Uganda's inflation rate is one of the lowest on the African continent.

He also says the Ugandan economy is now "more divesified and more sophisticated", with the production of a wider range of products.

He says that with the human resource that the country has, manufacturing is "the answer" to unemployment.

With Uganda ramping up its export promotion strategy, saying that Uganda is now exporting powdered milk to countries like Algeria.

The country's milk production has increased to 5.4 billion litres as of 2024, up from 2.5 billion litres in 2017/2018.
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 3:15 PM 

Boosting domestic revenue collection

Museveni says Uganda's domestic revenue collection is projected to be sh31.9 trillion by the end of this June. He says the target for next financial year is sh37.4 trillion.

And to boost the achievement of this target, the government will enhance efforts to fight corruption at the Uganda Revenue Authority (URA), as well as minimize tax evasion using EFRIS (Electronic Fiscal Receipting and Invoicing Solution).

He says the government will also ramp up efforts to combat smuggling at border points as well as adopt specific tax duties and support local governments to increase revenue collection.

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 3:07 PM 

'Uganda's economy strong, resilient'

In his address, President Museveni touches on the performance of various aspects of the economy, saying that "our economy remains strong and resilient" and makes a citation showing that Uganda was ranked seventh among the fastest-growing economies in Africa.

He says this growth will translate into higher household incomes. "In the last four years, our growth has been broad-based, inclusive and pro-poor," says Museveni, adding that "with the continued implementation of PDM [Parish Development Programme] — now in its third year of implementation — we are on track to wiping out poverty in the near future".

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 2:56 PM 

Museveni says Ugandans are now living much longer than before, adding that only 33 percent of the population are still practising subsistence agriculture amid government efforts to encourage every household into the money economy.

He also says that mass line programmes is the most effective way of triggering socio-economic transformation.

The President says that among the priority areas that will boost the economy in the new financial year include widening the tax base, transforming households and combatting corruption.

Meanwhile, he also says the security situation in Uganda is "generally calm", save for the traditional and non-traditional forms of insecurity manifesting in the form of terrorism. But he is firm that "all attempts to destabilize Uganda have been thwarted".

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 2:52 PM 

 MUSEVENI DELIVERS ADDRESS 

President Museveni begins his address by commending particularly the young people, whom he refers to as Bazzukulu (grandchildren) for "positively utilizing the peace and tranquility" across the country to improve their lives and those of their families.

He also pays tribute to the people who have passed on in the last one year, including Pope Francis, sitting and former Ugandan legislators, as well as other ordinary people.

He requests all to rise and observe a moment of silence in memory of those departed. "May their souls rest in eternal peace."
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 2:45 PM 

 BREAKING NEWS 

Museveni launches NDPIV

Actually, contrary to what was on the Order Paper, President Yoweri Museveni has launched the 4th National Development Plan (NDPIV) before delivering his State of the Nation Address.

After him putting his signature on the dummy document amid a round of applause and then group photos, all return to their seats for the fifth item on the agenda, which is inviting the President to deliver the State of the Nation Address 2025.

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 2:34 PM 

Speaker Among also names MPs who — constitutionally permitted — switched political party allegience during the fourth session.

She also says that Parliament lost two of its sitting members, Sarah Mateke (Woman MP for Kisoro district) and Muhammad Ssegirinya (Kawempe North MP), during the same period.

"We continue praying for their eternal repose," she says.
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 2:34 PM 

NDPIV set for launch

The Speaker of Parliament makes mention of the 4th National Development Plan (NDPIV), which President Museveni will launch after his address today.

Covering the period from 2025/26 to 2029/30, NDPIV aims to transform Uganda into a modern and prosperous nation — building on the previous three NDPs — and it is seen as a key step in achieving the Uganda Vision 2040.
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 2:27 PM 

35 bills passed

Speaker Anita Among gives a brief of what transpired in the "people-centred" Parliament in the last one year (fourth session), commending fellow MPs for their work, particularly in passing over 30 bills. She also thanks President Yoweri Museveni for his support towards the institution.

She says there were 75 sittings, two oaths administered to new MPs, 35 bills passed, three petitions concluded and 53 reports adopted.

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 2:23 PM 

Alban Sumana Kingsford Bagbin, the current Speaker of the Parliament of Ghana, is among the foreign Speakers of Parliament attending today's session. He is also the chair of the Conference of Speakers and Presidents of African Legislatures (COSPAL). Among is the vice-chairperson of this forum.
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 2:19 PM 

Proclamation

Speaker of Parliament Anita Among, who is chairing today's session, makes the proclamation as Item No. 3 on today's Order Paper.

In a few moments, after her opening remarks, she will invite President Museveni to deliver to the House the State of the Nation Address (in accordance with Article 101(1) of the Constitution).
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 2:12 PM 

 BREAKING NEWS 

President Museveni arrives at Kololo

President Yoweri Museveni has arrived at Kololo Ceremonial Grounds in the company of the First Lady and Minister of Education & Sports, Janet Museveni.

First up, he signs in Parliament's visitor's book, before the anthems are sung to get the session under way.

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 1:58 PM 

The Speaker of Parliament, Anita Among, is at Kololo.

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 1:55 PM 

MPs shuttled to Kololo

Meanwhile, legislators are being shuttled from Parliament to nearby Kololo Ceremonial Grounds, which is hosting today's special parliamentary sitting.

Today's session will be the first sitting of the first meeting of the fifth (and last) session of the 11th Parliament.
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 1:42 PM 

📸  More arrivals for SONA

Vice-President Maj. (Rtd) Jessica Alupo...

Deputy Speaker of Parliament Thomas Tayebwa and Clerk to Parliament Adolf Mwesige...

Inspector General of Police Abas Byakagaba...

Bank of Uganda Governor Michael Atingi-Ego...

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 1:25 PM 

📸  Arrivals at Kololo

Guests are arriving at Kololo Ceremonial Grounds in Kampala — the venue of today's State of the Nation Address. We are seeing ministers, MPs, ambassadors, religious and cultural leaders, etc.

Here are some captured by New Vision's Miriam Namutebi:

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 1:10 PM 

 What Museveni said at last SONA

Last year's State of the Nation Address happened on June 6. President Museveni built his address around the "three historical missions and the four principles of the National Resistance Movement (NRM)".

The three historical missions he spoke about were prosperity for the African people, strategic security for the African people and taking advantage of the brotherhood of the African people "to achieve the first two missions".

The NRM ideological principles are patriotism, Pan-Africanism, social-economic transformation, and democracy.

In that address, Museveni said they had concluded that prosperity could only come from each adult person engaging in producing a good or a service sustainably and selling it. "If he or she does so with ekibaro (maximizing profits), he or she will be prosperous."

The President also said that the "correct philosophy, ideology and strategy of the NRM" had enabled the economy and society of Uganda to go through minimum economic recovery, expansion, diversification, value addition and knowledge economy.

Here is that 2024 address in full.

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 1:00 PM 

 'Decisive approach to social justice' 💬

❝As Ugandans get set to hear from the President, several individuals interviewed by New Vision have weighed in on the issues they want addressed. One of them is Enid Nambuya, a human rights lawyer and activist:

"I call for a more decisive approach to social and economic justice. The minimum and living wages remain unresolved. Many Ugandans are not benefitting from economic policies. Human rights abuses are rampant and the state is ignoring citizens’ basic freedoms.

The government's lack of transparency in dealing with domestic arrears has driven many businesses into bankruptcy. Are foreign investments truly benefiting ordinary Ugandans?

I urge the President to address the deteriorating human rights situation. The Police and state agencies must operate within the law. NRM came to power in 1986 on promises of the rule of law and separation of powers. How have those been fulfilled?

Here are more voices.
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 1:50 PM 

📺📻📲  Live on Vision Group channels

Be sure to tune in to any of Vision Group's platforms to watch (TV) or listen to (radio) today's State of the Nation Address. The session is scheduled to get under way at 2pm local time — an hour away.

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 12:45 PM 

Preamble

Hello everyone and welcome to New Vision's live text commentary of today's State of the Nation Address.

It's that time of the year again. We may be midway down the year 2025 but it also means the 2024/2025 financial year is drawing to an end, which, by extension, means June is a typically very busy month.

Today's event is sandwiched by two important religious holidays: the Uganda Martyrs Day (which was marked on June 3) and Eid al-Adha, which will be celebrated this Friday (June 6). Heroes Day (June 9) is around the corner, as is Budget Reading Day (next Thursday). A jam-packed opening half of the month, it is. But first, let's focus on what happening today.

During the 35th sitting of the third meeting of the fourth session of the 11th Parliament of Uganda last Thursday (May 29), Speaker of Parliament Anita Among prorogued the House to today (June 5). In this case, prorogation means discontinuing the parliamentary session without dissolving Parliament.

Members of Parliament (MPs) will convene again this afternoon — this time at Kololo Ceremonial Grounds in the capital Kampala — to receive the State of the Nation Address by President Yoweri Museveni.

▪️ Today's will be the first sitting of the first meeting of the fifth (and last) session of the 11th Parliament.  

▪️ As with all parliamentary sittings, the session will begin with anthems. Prayers will follow.

▪️ Then the proclamation by the Speaker of Parliament, who will then invite President Museveni to deliver to the House the State of the Nation Address (in accordance with Article 101(1) of the Constitution).

▪️ After his address, the President is expected to launch the 4th National Development Plan (NDPIV).

▪️ Parliament will then be adjourned. Anthems, and that will be it.